NW200: Dunlop Tyres move swiftly to clarify confusion over request to cut race laps

Confusion arose over whether or not Dunlop Tyres had made the appeal on safety grounds after a Race Control announcement.

However, it later transpired that the request had come from teams whose riders were using Dunlop tyres.

The Superstock and final Superbike races were reduced from a scheduled six laps to five.

Dunlop Tyres issued the following statement on Saturday afternoon: “Dunlop Tyres did not request for the race to be shortened.

“Michael Dunlop’s tyre was inspected after the earlier race and Dunlop Tyres did not see any reason for the race to be shortened.“The NW200 organisers took this decision without Dunlop Tyres agreement.”

A NW200 statement posted on social media said the Superstock and Superbike races had been cut by a lap ‘at the request of Dunlop Tyres competitors and after discussion with Dunlop tyre technicians’.

It read: “In the interests of safety the CP Hire Superstock race and the Merrow Hotel Superbike Race will be reduced from 6 laps to 5 laps at the request of Dunlop Tyres competitors and after discussion with Dunlop tyre technicians. The technicians were happy to go with the riders feelings.”

Last year, a number of leading competitors including Peter Hickman, Michael Dunlop and Davey Todd were forced out of the final Superbike race due to safety concerns over delamination issues with Dunlop’s rear Superbike slicks at the North West.

Dunlop Tyres has dropped its official support of road racing in 2023.

A handful of riders will continue to use the rubber, but Hickman will be the only rider benefitting from official Dunlop Tyres support.

The 36-year-old is a brand ambassador and test rider for the company.

Michael Dunlop plus Milenco by Padgett’s Honda riders Todd and Conor Cummins are also understood to be using Dunlop tyres, albeit in an unofficial capacity.

Hickman’s rear Dunlop tyre came apart in the opening Superbike race last year at around 200mph, but the Isle of Man TT favourite says he has full faith in the brand.

“I’m on Dunlop tyres for everything,” said Hickman prior to the North West 200.

“They’ve pulled out in an official capacity but I will be on Dunlops on all bikes. They won’t have the full service that they provided in the past but anyone can still buy tyres.

“Even after that happened (last year’s issue) I raced at the TT on Dunlops, and Dunlop won every single race.”

Metzeler – a subsidiary of Pirelli – has been appointed as the TT’s official tyre supplier at the TT and will have a prominent service site at the Grandstand.